It felt autumnal today - starchy sky, bleached grass, falling leaves and a drop in temperature. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt felt only just bearable. I sat on the embankment and sketched the red brick houses behind their curtain of willows. It became 6 pm - families coming home, workers returning and the swans gliding past to see if further bread might be offered. Dogs came to investigate my bag, bike and watercolours, and found them disappointing. When a friend passed by and greeted me, it felt surreal to look away from these two worlds of illusion and reflection. I felt like a disbeliever in Plato's cave. This morning I spoke with someone depressed by the state of the world. What to do? Appreciate good fortune. Don't squander it with worry. Spread the love in small and local ways that make you happy. "Go placidly ... " "Sufficient unto the day ..." etc. |